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24H | SEVENTEEN
"I used to assassinate criminal for day-to-day job and now I am babysitting grown ass men!" Rumi cried. Hyun nodded patting her shoulder when a voice called.
"Rumi." Both Rumi and Hyun froze at that. "Rumi-ya." Rumi and Hyun turned to look at Hoshi standing feet away from them.
"Hoshi." Rumi smiled answering his call. "Do you think he heard us?" She whispered leaning towards Hyun. Hyun replied with maybe as they weren't really cautious of being heard. "Let's knock him out." Rumi said stepping towards Hoshi ready to knock him out.
"What? No!" Hyun whisper shouted grabbing her arm and pulling her back to his side. "Knock him out and do what? It's not like he is going to forget what he heard." Hyun reasoned glancing at Hoshi who staring at them with smile on his face.
"Then what do you suggest we do?!" Rumi exclaimed getting anxious. "No matter how much I don't want to play this double role, I can't be one getting caught!"
"Rumi-ya mwohae?" Hoshi asked gaining there attention again. Rumi let out a nervous laugh, "Nothing we were-" "What are you doing alone in those bushes?" He asked cutting her off. Uh? Rumi and Hyun glanced at each other and mouthed the word 'alone.' Did he just say alone? A smile formed on both of their faces.
"Hoshi-ya? Can you not see Hyun standing here?" Rumi asked patting Hyun's shoulder to which Hoshi just smiled in answer. "Have you been drinking? Are you drunk right now?" Rumi asked again trying to get better look of his face. There was an unusual smile on his face. "Anii..." Hoshi giggled dragging out the last syllable. Both of nodded their heads in relief at his answer. Rumi patted Hyun's arm and asked him to return back. "I'll handle it, you go back."
"Are you sure?" Hyun asked watching her walk towards Hoshi.
"Don't worry, I have been handling drunkard so much these days that I feel like I've gained a master's degree." Rumi assured waving her hand in dismiss. "Hoshi-ya gaja. I'll take you back to your room." Rumi said grabbing Hoshi's arm and dragging him towards the direction of the Seventeen's villa.
"You are coming with me!" Hoshi suddenly exclaimed linking their arms together and now instead of Rumi dragging him back it was her who was being dragged to the villa. Hoshi kept giggling all away as Rumi let him drag him, it was all fine if he is readily going back by himself. "Rumi is coming with me. Hahahahaha." Hoshi laughed and ran directly into the bushes.
"Yah! Yah! Yah! Eodiga?!(Where are you going?!)" Rumi exclaimed putting brake on her feet. Her suddenly stopping made Hoshi jerk back in force. "Aish!" Rumi cursed getting a hold of Hoshi before he fell on his ass. "Why are you going through bushes when there is path right here?" Rumi asked pointing towards the stone path. Hoshi giggled in answer trying to balance himself on one foot. "Yah, your slipper? Where did it go?" Rumi asked looking at his bare foot. Hoshi giggled again trying to balance himself but his drunk self wasn't helping. Rumi sighed and removed her left shoe "Wear this until I look for your slipper." She said passing it to him.
Hoshi nodded slipping his foot into the shoe and stood still as Rumi looked around for his slipper. "This kid really. Where did you lose it? Was it there when we came down here?" She asked looked back the path if he had lost it along the way. "Did you lose it in the bush?" She asked rummaging through the bush but couldn't feel anything. "You are going to get from me when you get sober tomorrow." She muttered kneeling down on the ground and pushed her head inside the gap between two bushes. There it was stuck between the branches, she leaned in more and pulled out the slipper. "Aai ga. Here is your slipper." She turned around to see Hoshi gone. "Yah! Hoshi?! Hoshi." She was quickly on her feet running to locate the owner of the slipper.
"Hoshi?! Hoshi!" She screamed when she noticed the drunkard's figure walking into the yard of their villa. "This punk. Yah! Couldn't you wait for me at least..." Rumi trailed off noticing the drunkard was not alone. Hoshi had guided her to long table where whole of Seventeen were seemed to be gathered. "Annyeonghaseyo." Rumi bowed her head towards twelve boys in greeting. Some of them bowed back in greeting. "Ah what is this situation?" Rumi muttered to herself feeling uncomfortable under their stares. For a moment her eyes locked with Wonwoo's who smiled at her, giving her somewhat a relief. Though she has met half of them, still it was intimidating with all of them together.
"Yah, what are you doing here?" It was Chan who had question her.
This brat, always curious. Rumi thought putting on a smile. "I was just bringing this one- ah slipper." Rumi realized she was still holding Hoshi's slipper in her hand while one of her shoes was missing. What a sight to look at. Rumi leaned down and patted Hoshi leg asking him remove the shoe and put on his own slipper. Fortunately, he did, not pulling any other stunt. Rumi stood up and put on her shoe. "Where was I? Ah right. I was bringing Hoshi back to the villa." Rumi answered pushing Hoshi in the front as if returning the lost duckling to the mother duck.
"This guy. Did he run off again.?" Mingyu asked shaking his head at Hoshi who smiled and pulled a chair for himself but completely missed almost falling on his ass if not for Rumi.
"Yah." She sighed in exhaustion holding him up. Others snickered at the sight. "To be honest you should put him on leash every time he is drunk."
"Eo? Mianhae." Seungcheol laughed nodded his head at her suggestion. "By the way where did you find him? I thought he went to use washroom." Seungcheol asked looking at his members for confirmation who nodded their heads.
"I found him on the stone path near the complex. He must have walked off there." Rumi answered looking at Hoshi who swaying from side to side. Rumi moved her hand from his arm to his not so stable waist.
"What were you doing out? Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Vernon asked. It was past three at night so it was quite questionable for her to be out. "I couldn't-" Hoshi quite loudly giggle cut her off. He covered his mouth from one side and said. "She was with Hyun-ssi. Doing-" He made kissing sounds. "-in the bushes."
"YAH!" Rumi scolded slapping his arm. "You said couldn't see him. And you even asked me what was I doing alone there!" This motherfucker has he been playing me all this time.
"Ah!" Hoshi rubbed his arm with pout on his face. "But I saw you and Hyun-ssi standing this close." Hoshi argued putting his palms against each other. "You were definitely kissin-" Rumi slapped his mouth before he could complete his sentence.
"He's lying. I wasn't- we weren't." Rumi denied looking at the boys, her eyes once again meeting Wonwoo. "We weren't really. I couldn't sleep so I was out for a walk when I met Hyun. We were just talking." Rumi explained. Wonwoo looked away. Aniyo, Wonwoo-ssi I am telling the truth. Aish. Rumi turned towards Hoshi with a glare. "Yah. Stop lying will you? You have been getting me in lot of trouble." Rumi slapped his arm again.
"Rumi-ssi, it's okay. He's drunk so he keeps sprouting non sense." Jeonghan said earning her attention.
"Really? Are you sure he is drunk?" Rumi questioned worried that he might have heard everything and just to survive he was pretending to be drunk.
"He is Rumi. He might pass out soon." Vernon reassured. Rumi looked at him nodded her head in somewhat relief.
"This guy. He asked me what was I doing alone when he clearly saw me standing with Hyun. And look at him talking all non-sense." She muttered pushing down Hoshi on the chair he had pulled earlier.
"You don't have to explain yourself." One of them said. It was Minghao but Rumi failed to remember his name. Rumi nodded her head with an awkward smile. She knew he didn't mean bad but his tone and words were too straight-cut.
"He means, that we know how Hoshi hyung's drunk habits are." Mingyu explained patting Minghao's hand, who looked at him with a frown wondering why was he explaining when he exactly said the same words.
"I understand." Rumi nodded her head smiling at Minghao and Mingyu. "Since, I've returned this guy. I'll get going." Rumi smiled and bowed again in politeness when her stomach rumbled and it was not some small growl or anything but like a sky rumbling in anger. "Haha." Rumi awkwardly laughed holding her stomach.
"Did you not have dinner or something?" Seungcheol asked looking at her.
"It was a horangi growling right there." Chan commented with a chuckle.
"Horangi? Horanghae!" It was as if someone pushed on the button, Hoshi was again on his feet full of energy. Rumi jerked back trying to avoid his claws. "Rumi-ya. HORANGHAE!" He screamed trying to claw her. Rumi ducked and stepped aside to Jeonghan's side who nearest to her.
"Yah, Dino-ya watch your words. He'll start going again." Seokmin warned Chan who snicked zipping his mouth.
"You should really put him on leash." Rumi commented as Jeonghan protected her by once again pushing him down on chair. She sighed in relief when Hoshi calmed down. "Ah." Her stomach rumbled again. Seungcheol turned his head and looked up at her again. "Hehe, sorry." She apologized.
"We have some leftover kimchi jjigae, if that is fine with you?" He asked. Rumi blushed and looked away. "Is it really okay?" She meekly asked peeking at others. "I'll go heat it up and bring some rice." Wonwoo was quick on his feet and left for the kitchen. "Here, sit down." Seungcheol patted the chair which Wonwoo had just abandoned. Rumi bowed her head thanking him. Meanwhile, Mingyu and Seokmin had followed Wonwoo muttered something about him burning down kitchen.
Seungkwan had brought her a can of some soft drink. "If you want something else, then we have beer and many other drinks." Seungkwan had asked.
"Aniyo. I am fine with this. Thank you." Rumi politely bowed her head in thanks. "I rather not drink." She muttered.
"Wae? Still have trauma from earlier?" Seungcheol asked teasing her about the incident happened at the after dinner. Rumi sighed and nodded her head. "I still can't use washroom whenever we have company dinners." Seungcheol laughed patting her back.
"What trauma?" Jeonghan asked titling his head to look at Rumi. He was sitting at the very end of the table, with Seungcheol at his left, while Hoshi on his right at the shorter side of the table. Joshua, Jihoon, Seungkwan, Vernon, Chan, Jun, Minghao from Hoshi's right anti clockwise. Seungcheol laughed answering his question. "Jihoon's friend almost took away her innocence."
"Nugu?" Jihoon questioned from across the table. "Jangmi? What did she do now?" Jihoon asked looking at Rumi worriedly. Rumi shook her head trying to assure him.
"She was all over Rumi, confessing her love and trying to kiss her." Rumi slapped her forehead at Vernon's words. Here she was trying to stopping the conversation from escalating and he had spilt the beans. "She had hickeys all over her neck and Jangmi noona wouldn't let go of her." Vernon laughed explaining the situation. "Wonwoo hyung had literally pulled her apart meanwhile tearing-"
"Vernon!" Rumi exclaimed slamming her hand on the table. "I-I mean, it wasn't that bad, right Vernon?" Rumi said giving him the eye, telling him to shut up. Vernon pressed his lips together to stop himself from laughing and nodded his head. "See it wasn't bad. Jangmi-ssi was little drunk." Vernon snorted at that earning another look from Rumi.
"No wonder she hasn't been pestering me these days." Jihoon muttered what he thought to himself. "Ah, I don't mean it like that. She thought I was close to Rumi-ssi so asked me about you, ah what am I saying?" Rumi gave him an awkward smile. These boys really had no control over their mouths after being drunk. Rumi thought as she watched Jihoon shake his head.
"So, you have been not only collecting men but ladies too, huh lady Casanova?" Jeonghan asked. "De?" Rumi turned to look at him, her eyebrow twitching at that stupid nickname. Jeonghan laughed at her expression, it was not only him but the other guy with pretty eyes sitting across him was laughing too hard. "I have also heard rumours and long list of your lovers names."
"What long list? Aniyo-" Rumi stopped trying to remember his name but failed to. "-there is this misunderstanding. I don't have any lovers, really." She tried her best to clear her image as other laughed at her expense.
"Rumi-ssi here." Wonwoo said placing a bowl of rice and Kimchi jjigae in front of her. "What are you all laughing about?" Wonwoo asked settling down beside her.
"Rumi-ssi here was telling us about her love affairs." Joshua answered at which Rumi shook her head denying his statement.
"Hyung, what love affairs are you talking about, she couldn't even flirt with Woozi hyung when Hoshi hyung was trying to set her up!" Chan laughed from the other end of the table. "You know she asked an artist if he sings and then replied with 'that's nice,' can you believe that?" Chan continued imitating her words.
"Yah as if you know lot about flirting!" Rumi argued getting annoyed. Somehow the little brat always gets on her nerves. "Better than you." He winked making others go in another fit of laughter. "Forget it." She huffed and started stuffing her face with rice and then taking a sip of the jjigae. "Mmmmm..." She hummed looking up, annoyed look was replaced with sparkling eyes as she hurriedly emptied the bowl. "Wahhh...This is delicious." She complimented with mouth full.
"Cheoncheonhi (Slowly)." Minghao said making a face at her manners to which Rumi just grinned at him.
"Woozi and Dokyeom made it." Jun informed. "Really?" She asked looking at him before turning towards Jihoon. "Jihoon-ssi jjang!" She exclaimed giving him thumps up. Jihoon chuckled bowed his head in thanks. Another bowl of rice replaced her empty one. Rumi looked up at Seokmin who smiled at her.
"Mingyu is making ramyeon if anyone wants then let him know." Seokmin informed his members. "What about Rumi-sii?" Rumi shook her head telling the rice bowl was enough.
"Are you sure about that, your stomach was quite growling loudly earlier." Joshua asked.
"Nah I'm good." Rumi smiled nodding her head. "It's just I had skipped lunch and then for dinner everyone just kept drinking, there wasn't much for eating so yeah." Rumi sheepishly grinned scratching her head. "I should've gotten your more food." Wonwoo muttered from beside her. Rumi turned to him and shook her head telling him that she was grateful for he had brought. "Should I get you more jjigae?" Wonwoo asked getting up when Rumi quickly grabbed his hand.
"Aniyo. This is enough." Rumi smiled squeezing her hand. Both of them stayed still with eyes locked with each other, a daze smile on both of their faces.
"Mwoya. You said she couldn't flirt, Dino-ya." Seungkwan commented staring at couple who were brought back to reality and quickly straightened up avoiding eye contact. "Hmm, I thought so too." Chan said scratching his chin. Rumi sneered at him before go back to her rice bowl. "Mwo? Yah! I saw that!" Chan complained.
"Obviously." Rumi rolled her eyes. "Leader-nim, how do you even handle that brat." She sneered again passing a look at Chan.
"Ah. It's very difficult life for me." Seungcheol sighed nodding his head. "Eo jamkkanman, why are you still calling me Leader-nim? Do you still not remember my name?" Seungcheol turned towards her with crossed arms. Rumi froze as if deer caught in a headlight.
"Hyung ask her if she knows any of our names?" Chan piped in while smirk suiting his face. This brat, someday he is going to get from me. Rumi thought throwing a glare at his direction before turning towards Seungcheol with a smile. "Of course, I know leader-nim's name. I mean who doesn't right?" She awkwardly laughed. "And you punk, what do you think of me huh? I do know your names. Look this is Wonwoo-ssi, Vernon, Hoshi, yours is Sinchan."
"Yah!" Chan stood up exclaiming, while Rumi provoked by poking out her tongue. "Taller one is Mingyu-ssi-" She continued pointing towards Mingyu who walked in holding a medium sized pot. "-puppy one is Seokmin-ssi, that is Jun-ssi." Jun gave her a peace sign. "See I know you guys." She turned to Chan giving him triumph smile.
"What about us?" Jeonghan asked pointing at the him and members sitting across him. "You still haven't said my name?" Seungcheol said pointing at him. Rumi grinned sheepishly. "Yah, seriously. How can you forget my name?" Seungcheol asked getting offended. "You haven't met Jun and Dokyeom yet you remember their names."
"Hehe, jwesonghamnida (Sorry)" Rumi bowed her head in regret. "I've never been good with names. And in my defence, there are too many people with same syllable in their names." Rumi said in her defence. "I am a foreigner leader-nim, please have mercy." Rumi asked making a cute face. Seungcheol huffed and looked away. Rumi turned to others apologetically.
"How come you work in entertainment company and not know it's artist names?" Minghao asked furrowing his eyebrow. Rumi-ssi was one weird woman he had ever seen. Her first impression was beating up someone and there was now a happy go lucky face. The span of difference between these two faces was too much for being real. "You speak Korean well, how long have you been in here?" He questioned getting curious.
"Eh, de? Four years, maybe?" Rumi answered cocking her head to side wondering why suddenly he was questioning that.
"Wow, four years really?" Joshua asked. "Then your Korean is really good." He complimented looking at the other foreign members.
"She was cursing like native earlier." Seungkwan added. I was? When? Rumi thought furrowing her eyebrows. "Ssibal-saekki! I will rip your balls apart!" Seungkwan grabbed Chan imitating the scene from earlier. Rumi's mouth formed 'oh.' They saw that? Rumi scratched her head looking away. Her eyes met Wonwoo's. Did Wonwoo-ssi see that too?
"Speaking of that. Yah jalhaesseo! (Good job!)" Seungcheol slapped Rumi's back quite hardly. Rumi turned around to look at him, her mouth twitching. Isn't this guy getting too comfortable here? "I thought you were one of those but when you defended our members back then and today beat up that guy. Wah, jinja my type. I really like you." Seungcheol said. "From now on you are one of us!" He grinned slapping her back again. Her eyebrow twitched again.
"Hyung." Wonwoo grabbed Rumi's arm and pulled her closer to him putting space between her and Seungcheol. He remembered she did not like being hit and his hyung was getting too closer for his liking. "Aren't you being too much?" He asked glancing at Rumi who was trying her best to keep on her smile.
"Wae? What did I do?" Seungcheol asked and then turned to Rumi. "Did I do something wrong?" Rumi gave him a closed lip smile and shook her head. "See? Why you suddenly getting this defensive?" He asked narrowing his eyes at Wonwoo.
"I am not getting defensive. I am trying to be respectful. Even if Rumi-ssi doesn't mind it, you shouldn't be this disrespectful, that goes with Chan too." Wonwoo said giving a warning look to Chan. "Wonwoo-ssi, gwenchanayo. I don't really mind." Rumi said shaking her head at Wonwoo, well apart from being hit, she wanted to add that.
"Sorry, we just tend to get really comfortable sometimes. We are sorry if offended you earlier with all the teasing." Joshua said. Rumi shook her head. "Oh, no-no. It's fine really. I don't mind it. In fact, it's good we are comfortable with each other since we'll be working together. Wonwoo-ssi, really you don't have to worry." She reassured that she was fine and didn't mind the joking and teasing; it was better than stiff faces.
"Jinja, hyung. You shouldn't, you'll regret it later." It was Hoshi who spoke up. Everyone looked at him, was he sober? They thought he had passed out. "She is ninety-four." He giggled looking at Seungcheol. He was definitely not sober.
"Yah, mwohae? Someone, bring him back to his room." Seungkwan said laughing at his sudden burst of English.
"Yeah, shouldn't you all be getting rest?" Rumi suddenly announced. "Tomorrow will be very eventful. I think you all should take a rest or it might be painful tomorrow." She said expressing her sympathy towards them. "I'll wash these dishes." Rumi stood up collecting her bowl and ramyeon pot that Mingyu had licked clean. "Aniyo, it's fine you don't have to-" Mingyu tried to stop her. "Uh-uh, you guys offered me food I should at least do this." She smiled. "Where is the sink?" She asked.
"I'll show you." Wonwoo said getting up and guiding her. Rumi bowed at others wishing them good night and followed Wonwoo.
"What is with Wonu-ya?" Seungcheol questioned watching them leave.
"Rumi-ssi, you shouldn't really. I can do this." Wonwoo said as both stood against the sink battling over who'll wash the utensils.
Rumi shook her head. "Aniyo. I have to at least do this much." Wonwoo sighed in defeat and stood beside her watching as she scrubbed the pot. "You know, Wonwoo-ssi. You don't have to always take care of me, like this." Rumi said glancing at him. She continued before he could complain. "Don't even deny it. You helped me that day at the restaurant, drove me home, aided to my injuries and today brought me food." She said turning around after turning of the tap and wiping her hands on her jeans. Wonwoo chuckled and grabbed them before using the paper towel to wipe them. "See, you are doing it again." Rumi smiled looking up at him, there was a little height difference in them, she would have to stand on tip toe to reach his eye.
"Johahanikka." Wonwoo muttered.
"De?"
"I mean, you are always taking care of us. So, isn't it polite to do so in return?" Rumi hummed and nodded her head.
A/N :
Love,
Albað